Planning permission for new sewage treatment plant?

[jumbletons]

Me again.

 

Dreaded planning permission. Can’t get a straight answer on this! Planning department never answer the phone or just say “put in a planning advice request”…

 

New individual STP. About 5m from the house.

 

One installer says I’ll need planning, but with various delays their end + 6w for PP, that’ll mean I won’t get to installing my new system for at least 4-5months!

 

The other installer swears blind I don’t need PP, only building control, and that they do this day in day out (I know it’s annoying when customers question things, but my neighbours WILL make as much trouble as possible so I need everything to be by the book). 

 

[nod]

You don’t need planning permission 

Im installing one for a neighbor and have just got BC involved 

[joe90]

58 minutes ago, nod said:

You don’t need planning permission 

Im installing one for a neighbor and have just got BC involved 

+1, only building control. Planning will tell you that you do to get paid for an application they don’t need .

[jumbletons]

29 minutes ago, joe90 said:

+1, only building control. Planning will tell you that you do to get paid for an application they don’t need .

Oh sneaky!! The company who said o don’t need it have been excellent, are very experienced and been around for ages with loads of good reviews so I don’t think they can be wrong!

[BotusBuild]

The whole "planning advice request" is a con trick to collect unnecessary fees from unwarranted members of the public 🤑

[nod]

1 hour ago, BotusBuild said:

The whole "planning advice request" is a con trick to collect unnecessary fees from unwarranted members of the public 🤑

Yep 

Amazing how they get away with charging for nonsense advice 

 

[jumbletons]

2 hours ago, BotusBuild said:

The whole "planning advice request" is a con trick to collect unnecessary fees from unwarranted members of the public 🤑

Yes!! I had the same dilemma with solar panels on my garage, nobody answers the phone and when they do they can’t give advice over the phone. You  can’t simply ask if something needs planning permission without having to pay! Money maker for them yes but also money saver as they don’t need staff to be available on the phones to answer such queries

[crooksey]

The only time planning is needed is when you are building a new property, or knocking down an existing and replacing it. Under the new dwelling plans a new wastewater plant *may* be conditioned as a pre-start condition, under this you will need to submit percolation tests and drainage design to be approved by the planners. Some times simply stating "new package treatment plant and drainage filed to be installed" and this is sufficient. 

 

If you are just refurbishing an existing property, you meet the general binding rules and the plant will only be serving one property, then planning is not needed (but you will need building control). Depending on the design of the discharge of the new plant, you may need Environment Agency approval. 

[crispy_wafer]

6 minutes ago, crooksey said:

"new package treatment plant"

 

Exactly what we stated on our replacement dwelling, BCO not particularly bothered, only that it was required distance from property.  If I was staying in the bungalow and swapping out the septic tank, I'd just crack on and do it.

[ToughButterCup]

Look at the General Binding Rules carefully.

If you meet those regulations then that's doing it  'by the book '

Our BCO could not have been less interested.  Annoying to pay for a professional's disinterest. But hey ho.....

[SteamyTea]

9 hours ago, ToughButterCup said:

Look at the General Binding Rules carefully.

Is this them.

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/general-binding-rules-small-sewage-discharge-to-a-surface-water

[jumbletons]

On 13/08/2024 at 09:23, crooksey said:

The only time planning is needed is when you are building a new property, or knocking down an existing and replacing it. Under the new dwelling plans a new wastewater plant *may* be conditioned as a pre-start condition, under this you will need to submit percolation tests and drainage design to be approved by the planners. Some times simply stating "new package treatment plant and drainage filed to be installed" and this is sufficient. 

 

If you are just refurbishing an existing property, you meet the general binding rules and the plant will only be serving one property, then planning is not needed (but you will need building control). Depending on the design of the discharge of the new plant, you may need Environment Agency approval. 

Fantastic thanks so much, this actually makes sense hoorah!! Just the info I needed 😊

[Crunchynut]

Just for those coming across this thread in the future.

 

I’m in Staffordshire and replaced an existing septic tank with a STP and had to have planning permission. I argued the point with them but they insisted it was a requirement. Maybe different authorities have different needs. Building Control too, of course.